So many rich ideas to dig into here! As a former art historian, I have a surface-level understanding of philosophy and classical myth as so much of both of these fields has played into art through the ages. I, too, find pre-raphaelite art to be among the most symbolic and thought-provoking. All though I may be biased because my thesis advisor was a pre-raph specialist! I was also struck by the idea of Pygmailion being more narcissistic than Narcissus! I never thought of it that way, but it's true!
I'm really happy you found it full of rich ideas - that's kind of what I was hoping for.
I must be the other way round to you then with regards to art versus philosophy! I only have a surface level knowledge of art history, but there's the old cliche of knowing what I like! I certainly have a strong appreciation of it, though, and I'm learning new aspects of it all the time. I only recently starting adding art images to some of my posts and I'm wondering why it took me so long to think of it - especially as they're all public domain!
Yes, I think the Pygmalion story has a lot to teach us creative types! One often falls in love with one's own creations...
This is really bold, radical stuff. Bravo! Such an interesting, syncretic, flowing analysis. It reminds me a bit of Rieff's "Triumph of the Therapeutic," but with more mythological grounding and a friendly wave to the Frankfurt School.
I should confess that I haven't actually read Rieff, odd as that might sound. Perhaps I should blame my so-called professors for not mentioning these things and providing inadequate reading lists! Mind you, in this particular essay (and my intro) I was concentrating more on the classical side of things, and any foray into the Frankfurt School would've been a diversion - definitely worthy of a thesis, for sure, but not a humble undergraduate essay!
When it comes to the Frankfurt School I would say I'd come down more on Marcuse's side, in the sense that Praxis is important, instead of just talking about stuff (shades of the famous scene in Python's Life of Brian - 'what have the romans ever done for us' etc.). I'd say this for my part because I've always had quite a vociferous reaction to Marx (especially his structuralism/materialism). I think Marx did serious damage to socialism (I'm more of an pre-Marxian anarcho-socialist). But that's another long essay! I would certainly put myself in the 'New Left' though.
And I certainly think, with Marcuse, that psychology is more important for understanding what's wrong with the world. Rather than structuralism, that is... I think the Frankfurt school overcomplicate things, perhaps...
Rieff is himself a complicated figure. He is, ultimately, remembered as a conservative, though I think his early warnings/messages about the rise of the therapeutic are radical and humane. Then there are the rumours that his wife (and one-time student) Susan Sontag actually wrote "Freud: The Mind of a Moralist" and Rieff took the credit...
Anyway, really enjoyed your weaving of different strands of thought! It's nice to read far-ranging leftist thought that isn't rigidly dogmatic.
Yes - I had heard about that rumour about Sontag. I think I'll take the wise option and remain neutral on that one...
I know what you mean about a lot of leftists being dogmatic (that's probably in large part due to the influence of Marx/Marxism) - it's one of the main things which has damaged the left, imho...
So many rich ideas to dig into here! As a former art historian, I have a surface-level understanding of philosophy and classical myth as so much of both of these fields has played into art through the ages. I, too, find pre-raphaelite art to be among the most symbolic and thought-provoking. All though I may be biased because my thesis advisor was a pre-raph specialist! I was also struck by the idea of Pygmailion being more narcissistic than Narcissus! I never thought of it that way, but it's true!
I'm really happy you found it full of rich ideas - that's kind of what I was hoping for.
I must be the other way round to you then with regards to art versus philosophy! I only have a surface level knowledge of art history, but there's the old cliche of knowing what I like! I certainly have a strong appreciation of it, though, and I'm learning new aspects of it all the time. I only recently starting adding art images to some of my posts and I'm wondering why it took me so long to think of it - especially as they're all public domain!
Yes, I think the Pygmalion story has a lot to teach us creative types! One often falls in love with one's own creations...
This is really bold, radical stuff. Bravo! Such an interesting, syncretic, flowing analysis. It reminds me a bit of Rieff's "Triumph of the Therapeutic," but with more mythological grounding and a friendly wave to the Frankfurt School.
That's a cool comment - thanks!
I should confess that I haven't actually read Rieff, odd as that might sound. Perhaps I should blame my so-called professors for not mentioning these things and providing inadequate reading lists! Mind you, in this particular essay (and my intro) I was concentrating more on the classical side of things, and any foray into the Frankfurt School would've been a diversion - definitely worthy of a thesis, for sure, but not a humble undergraduate essay!
When it comes to the Frankfurt School I would say I'd come down more on Marcuse's side, in the sense that Praxis is important, instead of just talking about stuff (shades of the famous scene in Python's Life of Brian - 'what have the romans ever done for us' etc.). I'd say this for my part because I've always had quite a vociferous reaction to Marx (especially his structuralism/materialism). I think Marx did serious damage to socialism (I'm more of an pre-Marxian anarcho-socialist). But that's another long essay! I would certainly put myself in the 'New Left' though.
And I certainly think, with Marcuse, that psychology is more important for understanding what's wrong with the world. Rather than structuralism, that is... I think the Frankfurt school overcomplicate things, perhaps...
Rieff is himself a complicated figure. He is, ultimately, remembered as a conservative, though I think his early warnings/messages about the rise of the therapeutic are radical and humane. Then there are the rumours that his wife (and one-time student) Susan Sontag actually wrote "Freud: The Mind of a Moralist" and Rieff took the credit...
Anyway, really enjoyed your weaving of different strands of thought! It's nice to read far-ranging leftist thought that isn't rigidly dogmatic.
Yes - I had heard about that rumour about Sontag. I think I'll take the wise option and remain neutral on that one...
I know what you mean about a lot of leftists being dogmatic (that's probably in large part due to the influence of Marx/Marxism) - it's one of the main things which has damaged the left, imho...
Couldn't agree more. I'll look forward to more of your writing. Cheers!